Liquid crystal display device

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display device includes a backlight module, a liquid crystal display panel, an insulating cover and a touch panel assembly. The insulating cover includes a reflective bottom plate for supporting the backlight module, at least one first sidewall with a first end and an opposite second end, at least one second sidewall with a third end and an opposite fourth end and a supporting plate connected to the opposite second end of the first sidewall and the third end of the second sidewall. The supporting plate is arranged in parallel with the reflective bottom plate and has an upper surface for supporting the liquid crystal display panel. The securing frame has a first end portion fixed to a lower surface of the supporting and a second end portion.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number100128558, filed Aug. 10, 2011, which is herein incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a display device. More particularly,the present invention relates to a display device with a touch controlfunction.

2. Description of Related Art

Liquid crystal display panels have been used extensively in variouselectronic devices, and the tablet PC is an example of such anelectronic device. The current tablet PCs are designed to be light andthin so as to be easily carried by a user. Moreover, it is necessary tointegrate the touch-control function on a display screen of the tabletPC.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional liquid crystaldisplay device equipped with a touch panel assembly. The display deviceincludes a touch panel assembly 500 and a liquid crystal display module.

The touch panel assembly 500 includes a touch panel 520, a protectivesubstrate 530 and a rim frame 510. The touch panel 520 is located on aninner surface of the protective substrate 530 and the rim frame 510 islocated on a periphery of the protective substrate 530 to be fastened tothe liquid crystal display module. The liquid crystal display devicefurther includes a back bezel 910, a plastic frame 920, and a frontbezel 930 for securing all members of the liquid crystal display device.

A reflective plate 800, a light guide plate 260 and a plurality ofoptical films 270, e.g., brightness enhanced films or diffusing films,are stacked sequentially on the back bezel 910. The plastic frame 920supports a liquid crystal display panel 250 thereon, and the opticalelements inside the back bezel 910 engage the back bezel 910 by a clipmechanism. After the liquid crystal display panel 250 is assembledwithin the plastic frame 920, the front bezel 930 is arranged above andcovered over the liquid crystal display panel 250 and connected to theplastic frame 920 by the clip mechanism. There is an opening located onone or more sides of the plastic frame 920 so that an edge-type lightsource can be installed in proximity to the plastic frame 920 to provideillumination to the light guide plate 260.

In order to assemble the conventional touch panel assembly 500 and theliquid crystal display module, one or more screws 940 are required tofasten the front bezel 930 to the rim frame 510. Thus, the thickness ofthe final product depends on the combined thickness of the rim frame510, the protective substrate 530 and the liquid crystal display module.There is a strong need for providing light and thin liquid crystaldisplay devices for customers.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a liquid crystal display devicewhich is configured in such a manner as to satisfy abovementioned needfor providing a light and thin display device.

According an aspect of the present invention, the liquid crystal displaydevice includes a backlight module, a liquid crystal display panel, aninsulating cover, touch panel assembly and a securing frame. Theinsulating cover includes a reflective bottom plate, at least one firstsidewall, at least one second sidewall and a supporting plate. Thereflective bottom plate supports the backlight module. The firstsidewall has a first end connected with a periphery of the reflectivebottom plate and an opposite second end, and the first sidewall isperpendicular to the reflective bottom plate. The second sidewall has athird end and an opposite fourth end, and the second sidewall isperpendicular to the supporting plate. The supporting plate isinterconnected between the opposite second end of the first sidewall andthe third end of the second sidewall. The supporting plate is arrangedin parallel with the reflective bottom plate and has an upper surfacefor supporting the liquid crystal display panel. The touch panelassembly covers and is disposed above the liquid crystal display panel.The securing frame has a first end portion and a second end portion. Thefirst end portion is fixed to a lower surface of the supporting plateand the second end portion is connected to the touch panel assembly.

According to another embodiment herein, the touch panel assemblyincludes a protective substrate and a touch panel disposed on an innersurface of the protective substrate.

According to another embodiment herein, the first end portion and thesecond end portion of the securing frame are arranged in parallel witheach other and the second end portion is closer to the touch panel thanthe first end portion.

According to another embodiment herein, the second end portion of thesecuring frame is connected to the touch panel by a double-sidedadhesive tape.

According to another embodiment herein, the touch panel assembly furtherincludes a rim frame disposed on a periphery of the protectivesubstrate.

According to another embodiment herein, the second end portion of thesecuring frame is connected to the rim frame of the touch panelassembly.

According to another embodiment herein, the second end portion of thesecuring frame is closer to the touch panel than the first end portionof the securing frame.

According to another embodiment herein, the second end portion of thesecuring frame is farther away from the touch panel than the first endportion of the securing frame.

According to another embodiment herein, the second end portion of thesecuring frame is connected to the rim frame by a double-sided adhesivetape or a screw.

According to another embodiment herein, the liquid crystal displaydevice further includes a tape adhered to an edge of the liquid crystalpanel and the second sidewall of the insulating cover so as to securethe liquid crystal display to the insulating cover.

According to another embodiment herein, the securing frame is a metalframe.

According to another embodiment herein, the first end portion of thesecuring frame is fixed to the lower surface of the supporting plate bya double-sided adhesive tape.

According to another embodiment herein, the insulating cover is made byfoamed Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or plastic materials.

According an aspect of the present invention, a liquid crystal displaydevice includes a backlight module, a liquid crystal display panel, aninsulating cover, a touch panel assembly and a securing frame. Theinsulating cover includes a reflective bottom plate, at least one firstsidewall, at least one second sidewall and a supporting plate. Thereflective bottom plate supports the backlight module. The firstsidewall has a first end connected with a periphery of the reflectivebottom plate and an opposite second end, and the first sidewall isperpendicular to the reflective bottom plate. The second sidewall has athird end and an opposite fourth end, and the second sidewall isperpendicular to the supporting plate. The supporting plate isinterconnected between the opposite second end of the first sidewall andthe third end of the second sidewall. The supporting plate is arrangedin parallel with the reflective bottom plate and has an upper surfacefor supporting the liquid crystal display panel. The touch panelassembly covers and is disposed above the liquid crystal display panel.The securing frame has a receiving space and a top plate. The receivingspace covers a lower surface and a side surface of the insulating coverand the top plate is connected to the touch panel assembly.

According to another embodiment herein, the touch panel assemblyincludes a protective substrate and a touch panel disposed on an innersurface of the protective substrate.

According to another embodiment herein, the top plate of the securingframe is arranged in parallel with the reflective bottom plate andextending toward a center of liquid crystal panel.

According to another embodiment herein, the top plate of the securingframe is connected to the touch panel by a double-sided adhesive tape.

According to another embodiment herein, the top plate of the securingframe is arranged in parallel with the reflective bottom plate andextending away from a center of liquid crystal panel.

According to another embodiment herein, the top plate of the securingframe is connected to the touch panel by a double-sided adhesive tape.

According to another embodiment herein, the liquid crystal displaydevice further includes a tape adhered to an edge of the liquid crystalpanel and the second sidewall of the insulating cover so as to securethe liquid crystal display to the insulating cover.

According to another embodiment herein, the securing frame is a metalframe.

According to another embodiment herein, the insulating cover is made byfoamed Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or plastic materials.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are by examples, and are intended toprovide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the followingdetailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to theaccompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display deviceequipped with a touch panel assembly according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display deviceequipped with a touch panel assembly according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display deviceequipped with a touch panel assembly according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display deviceequipped with a touch panel assembly according to a fourth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display deviceequipped with a touch panel assembly according to a fifth embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional liquid crystaldisplay device equipped with a touch panel assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in thedrawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display deviceequipped with a touch panel assembly according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention. The liquid crystal display device 100 a includesa touch panel assembly 500, an insulating cover 200, a securing frame300 a and a liquid crystal display panel 250. The insulating cover 200supports the liquid crystal display panel 250 and connects to thesecuring frame 300 a at peripheral edges thereof. The touch panelassembly 500 is secured to securing frame 300 a, i.e., the touch panelassembly 500 is arranged above and covers the liquid crystal displaypanel 250, so as to achieve the liquid crystal display device 100 a.

The touch panel assembly 500 includes a touch panel 520, a protectivesubstrate 530 and a rim frame 510. The touch panel 520 is located on aninner surface of the protective substrate 530 so that users canmanipulate the touch panel 520 from an opposite outer surface of theprotective substrate 530. The rim frame 510 is located on the peripheryof the protective substrate 530 and is secured thereto using a pluralityof screws (not shown) in suitable positions.

The insulating cover 200 is formed as a unitary piece of foamedpolyethylene terephthalate (PET) or other suitable plastic materials byusing thermal pressing and cutting processes. The insulating cover 200is white and has electrical insulating properties. From thecross-sectional view, the insulating cover 200 includes a reflectivebottom plate 210, first sidewalls 220, supporting plates 230 and secondsidewalls 240.

The reflective bottom plate 210 can serve as a reflector due to superiorreflectivity of the foamed polyethylene terephthalate so as to replace atraditional reflector, such that the elements of the liquid crystaldisplay device are reduced and easy assembled. At least one firstsidewall 220 extends from a periphery of the reflective bottom plate 210and is arranged generally perpendicular to the reflective bottom plate210. The quantity of the first sidewall 220 depends on the design of abacklight source. For example, in the case where a single side-edge typelight source is used, it is necessary to use a configuration in whichthree first sidewalls 220 are located on three sides of the reflectivebottom plate 210 and the remaining side is left without a sidewall forreceiving light from the side-edge type light source. Alternatively,when two side-edge type light sources are used, it is necessary to use aconfiguration in which two first sidewalls 220 are located on two sidesof the reflective bottom plate 210 and the remaining two sides are leftwithout sidewalls for receiving light from the two side-edge type lightsources.

A top end of the first sidewall 220 connects to the supporting plate230, which is arranged in parallel with the reflective bottom plate 210,and a bottom end of the first sidewall 220 connects to the reflectivebottom plate 210. The supporting plate 230 extends outward from one endthereof which is connected with the first sidewall 220 for supportingthe liquid crystal display panel 250. Another end of the supportingplate 230 is connected to the second sidewall 240 which is arrangedsubstantially perpendicular to the supporting plate 230.

The reflective bottom plate 210 supports a backlight module, whichincludes a light guide plate 260, at least one optical film and a lightsource (not shown in the drawings). The light source is a side-edge typelight source located on one or more sides of the light guide plate 260.The light guide plate 260 directs the light produced by the light sourcetowards the liquid crystal display panel 250. The optical film(s) mayinclude a brightness enhanced film or a diffusing film, etc. The lightguide plate 260 and at least one optical film are arranged over thereflective bottom plate 210 in sequence and the liquid crystal displaypanel 250 is located above the supporting plate 230.

The securing frame 300 a is made of materials with a mechanical strengthgreater than the mechanical strength of the insulating cover 200. Thesecuring frame 300 a includes an adhesion plate 310, a fixing plate 330and a third sidewall 320. The third sidewall 320 is interconnectedbetween the adhesion plate 310 and fixing plate 330. The adhesion plate310 is a first end of the securing frame 300 a and is located underneaththe supporting plate 230 of the insulating cover 200. The third sidewall320 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the adhesion plate 310and the fixing plate 330, and its top end is connected to the adhesionplate 310 and its bottom end is connected to the fixing plate 330. Thefixing plate 330 is a second end of the securing frame 300 a. From thecross-sectional view, the securing frame 300 a is formed in astep-shaped design. An upper surface of the adhesion plate 310 isadhered to a lower surface of the supporting plate 230 by an adhesiveelement 400, e.g., a double-sided adhesive tape.

In this embodiment, the first end, i.e., the adhesion plate 310, of thesecuring frame 300 a is closer to the touch panel 520 than the secondend, i.e., the fixing plate 330, of the securing frame 300 a, and thesecond end of the securing frame 300 a is farther away from a center ofthe liquid crystal display panel 250 than the first end of the securingframe 300 a. The fixing plate 330 extends outward from the thirdsidewall 320 and the adhesion plate 310 extends towards the center ofthe liquid crystal display panel 250 from the third sidewall 320.

A coupling element 600, e.g., a screw, penetrates through a through holein the fixing plate 330, and fastens the fixing plate 330 to the rimframe 510 of the touch panel assembly 500. In an alternate embodiment,the coupling element 600 may be a double-sided adhesive tape to adherethe second end of the securing frame 300 a to the rim frame 510. Inorder to enhance the strength of the liquid crystal display device 100a, a tape 700 is adhered to an edge of the liquid crystal display panel250 and the second sidewall 240 of the insulating cover 200. The tape700 is adhered from the edge of top surface of liquid crystal displaypanel 250 to outer surface of the second sidewall 240. In thisembodiment, the tape 700 is further adhered to outer surface of thethird sidewall 320 so as to firmly secure the liquid crystal displaypanel 250 to the insulating cover 200 and to the securing frame 300 a.

In sum, the liquid crystal display device 100 a disclosed herein islighter and thinner than traditional liquid crystal display devices.Since the insulating cover 200 is a unitary piece, several assemblysteps can be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display deviceequipped with a touch panel assembly according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention. The liquid crystal display device 100 b includesa touch panel assembly 500, an insulating cover 200, a securing frame300 b and a liquid crystal display panel 250. The liquid crystal displaydevice 100 b differs from the liquid crystal display device 100 a in thedesign of the securing frame 300 b.

The securing frame 300 b of this embodiment also has a step-shapeddesign. In this embodiment, the second end, i.e., the fixing plate 330,of the securing frame 300 b is closer to the touch panel 520 than thefirst end, i.e., the adhesion plate 310, of the securing frame 300 b,and the second end of the securing frame 300 b is farther away from acenter of the touch panel 520 than the first end of the securing frame300 b. A top end of the third sidewall 320 is connected to the fixingplate 330 and a bottom end of the third sidewall 320 is connected to theadhesion plate 310. The fixing plate 330 extends outward from the thirdsidewall 320, and the adhesion plate 310 extends towards the center ofthe liquid crystal display panel 250 from the third sidewall 320. Inthis embodiment, the rim frame 510 is reduced in thickness (comparedwith the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1) so as to achieve a thinnerliquid crystal display device by reducing the thickness at the peripherythereof.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display deviceequipped with a touch panel assembly according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention.

The liquid crystal display device 100 c includes a touch panel assembly500′, an insulating cover 200, a securing frame 300 c and a liquidcrystal display panel 250. The liquid crystal display device 100 cdiffers from the liquid crystal display devices 100 a and 100 b in thedesign of the securing frame 300 c and the touch panel assembly 500′.

The touch panel 520 is located on the inner surface of the protectivesubstrate 530 so that users can manipulate the touch panel 520 from anouter surface opposite to the inner surface of the protective substrate530. The rim frame 510 (referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) is omitted inthe configuration of the touch panel assembly 500′.

The adhesion plate 310 of the securing frame 300 c is arranged inparallel with the fixing plate 330. The adhesion plate 310 extendstowards the center of the liquid crystal display panel 250 from a bottomend of the third sidewall 320, and the fixing plate 330 extends towardsthe center of the liquid crystal display panel 250 from a top end of thethird sidewall 320. The securing frame 300 c has a U-shapedcross-sectional configuration. The adhesion plate 310 of the securingframe 300 c is adhered to a lower surface of the supporting plate 230 ofthe insulating cover 200 by an adhesive element 400, e.g., a double-sideadhesive tape. The fixing plate 330 is connected to a periphery of abottom surface of the touch panel 520 also by a coupling element 600,e.g., a double-sided adhesive tape, instead of a screw, bolt or otherfastener so as to achieve a thinner profile for the liquid crystaldisplay panel assembly 100 c.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display deviceequipped with a touch panel assembly according to a fourth embodiment ofthe present invention. The liquid crystal display device 100 d includesa touch panel assembly 500′, an insulating cover 200, a securing frame300 d, and a liquid crystal display panel 250.

There is a receiving space 305 formed within the securing frame 300 dconformal to an outer profile of the insulating cover 200. The securingframe 300 d includes a bottom portion 306, a sidewall 307, a horizontalplate 308, a vertical plate 309 and a top plate 340 a. A bottom end ofthe sidewall 307 is connected to the bottom portion 306 and the oppositetop end of the sidewall 307 is connected to one end of the horizontalplate 308. Another end of the horizontal plate 308 is connected to abottom end of the vertical plate 309. Another top end of the verticalplate 309 is connected to the top plate 340 a. The receiving space 305can fully wrap around the bottom surface and side surfaces of theinsulating cover 200 so that the bottom portion 306 faces the bottomsurface of the insulating cover 200 and the sidewall 307 faces the sidesurface of the insulating cover 200. The top plate 340 a extends outwardaway from the center of the liquid crystal display panel 250. When theinsulating cover 200 is assembled inside the securing frame 300 d, thereflective bottom plate 210 of the insulating cover 200 is locatedadjacent to the bottom portion 306 of the securing frame 300 d and thesecuring frame 300 d entirely wraps around the bottom and side surfacesof the insulating cover 200.

An inner surface of the horizontal plate 308 is adhered to a bottomsurface of the insulating cover 200 by an adhesive element 400, e.g., adouble-sided adhesive tape. The top plate 340 a of the securing frame300 d is adhered to a periphery of a bottom surface of the touch panel520 by a coupling element 600, e.g., a double-sided adhesive tape. Withthis configuration, the liquid crystal display device 100 d not only hasa thin and light appearance but also possesses a high degree ofmechanical strength.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display deviceequipped with a touch panel assembly according to a fifth embodiment ofthe present invention.

The liquid crystal display device 100 e includes a touch panel assembly500′, an insulating cover 200, a securing frame 300 e and a liquidcrystal display panel 250. The liquid crystal display device 100 ediffers from the liquid crystal display device 100 d in the design of atop plate 340 b of the securing frame 300 e. The top plate 340 b of thesecuring frame 300 e extends towards the center of the liquid crystaldisplay panel 250.

According to the discussed embodiments, a new solution is provided toassemble the touch panel assembly and the liquid crystal display moduleby utilizing an insulating cover of a single unitary piece. Therefore,the liquid crystal display device of the present invention is thinnerand lighter, and requires fewer manufacturing steps in the assemblyprocess when compared to conventional configurations.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the structure of the presentinvention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present inventioncover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fallwithin the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising: a backlight module; aliquid crystal display panel; an insulating cover comprising: areflective bottom plate for supporting the backlight module thereon; atleast one first sidewall having a first end connected with a peripheryof the reflective bottom plate and an opposite second end, the firstsidewall being perpendicular to the reflective bottom plate; asupporting plate having one end connected to the opposite second end ofthe first sidewall, and the supporting plate being in parallel with thereflective bottom plate and having an upper surface for supporting theliquid crystal display panel thereon; and at least one second sidewallconnected to the other end of the supporting plate and beingperpendicular to the supporting plate; a touch panel assembly coveringand disposed above the liquid crystal display panel; and a securingframe having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first endportion being fixed to a lower surface of the supporting plate and thesecond end portion being connected to the touch panel assembly.
 2. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the touch panel assembly comprises aprotective substrate and a touch panel disposed on an inner surface ofthe protective substrate.
 3. The display device of claim 2, wherein thefirst end portion and the second end portion of the securing frame arearranged in parallel with each other and the second end portion iscloser to the touch panel than the first end portion.
 4. The displaydevice of claim 3, wherein the second end portion of the securing frameis connected to the touch panel by a double-sided adhesive tape.
 5. Thedisplay device of claim 2, wherein the touch panel assembly furthercomprises a rim frame disposed on a periphery of the protectivesubstrate.
 6. The display device of claim 5, wherein the second endportion of the securing frame is connected to the rim frame of the touchpanel assembly.
 7. The display device of claim 6, wherein the second endportion of the securing frame is closer to the touch panel than thefirst end portion of the securing frame.
 8. The display device of claim6, wherein the second end portion of the securing frame is farther awayfrom the touch panel than the first end portion of the securing frame.9. The display device of claim 5, wherein the second end portion of thesecuring frame is connected to the rim frame by a double-sided adhesivetape or a screw.
 10. The display device of claim 1, further comprising atape adhered to an edge of the liquid crystal panel and the secondsidewall of the insulating cover so as to secure the liquid crystaldisplay to the insulating cover.
 11. The display device of claim 1,wherein the securing frame is a metal frame.
 12. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein the first end portion of the securing frame is fixed tothe lower surface of the supporting plate by a double-sided adhesivetape.
 13. The display device of claim 1, wherein the insulating cover ismade of foamed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or plastic materials.14. A liquid crystal display device comprising: a backlight module; aliquid crystal display panel; an insulating cover comprising: areflective bottom plate for supporting the backlight module thereon; atleast one first sidewall having a first end connected with a peripheryof the reflective bottom plate and an opposite second end, the firstsidewall being perpendicular to the reflective bottom plate; at leastone second sidewall having a third end and an opposite fourth end, thesecond sidewall being perpendicular to the reflective bottom plate; anda supporting plate being interconnected between the opposite second endof the first sidewall and the third end of the second sidewall, and thesupporting plate being in parallel with the reflective bottom plate andhaving an upper surface for supporting the liquid crystal display panelthereon; a touch panel assembly covering and disposed above the liquidcrystal display panel; and a securing frame having a receiving space foraccommodating the insulating cover, having a profile adjoining a lowersurface and a side surface of the insulating cover and having a topplate being connected to the touch panel assembly.
 15. The displaydevice of claim 14, wherein the touch panel assembly comprises aprotective substrate and a touch panel disposed on an inner surface ofthe protective substrate.
 16. The display device of claim 15, whereinthe top plate of the securing frame is arranged in parallel with thereflective bottom plate and extending toward to a center of liquidcrystal panel.
 17. The display device of claim 16, wherein the top plateof the securing frame is connected to the touch panel by a double-sidedadhesive tape.
 18. The display device of claim 15, wherein the top plateof the securing frame is arranged in parallel with the reflective bottomplate and extending away from a center of liquid crystal panel.
 19. Thedisplay device of claim 18, wherein the top plate of the securing frameis connected to the touch panel by a double-sided adhesive tape.
 20. Thedisplay device of claim 14, further comprising a tape adhered to an edgeof the liquid crystal panel and the second sidewall of the insulatingcover so as to secure the liquid crystal display to the insulatingcover.
 21. The display device of claim 14, wherein the securing frame isa metal frame.
 22. The display device of claim 14, wherein theinsulating cover is made by foamed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) orplastic materials.